Russian threat clouds 80th anniversary of end of World War II in Europe

BarcelonaA group of citizens approached the Soviet World War II memorial located in the Tiergarten, the geographical and emotional heart of Berlin, at noon this Thursday to wave Ukrainian flags. A symbolic gesture that emphasizes the impact that the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the day of victory and the end of World War II on the continent, have had on European capitals. Paris, London, Berlin, The Hague, and Warsaw have commemorated the surrender of the Nazi army, keeping a close eye on Moscow and the Russian threat in the wake of the VE Day. Russian invasion of the neighboring country more than three years ago.

On a holiday in Berlin to commemorate the end of the Nazi regime, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered a speech in the Bundestag in which he expressed his gratitude for the freedom he had regained and, at the same time, condemned both the invasion of Ukraine and the "rupture of values" in the United States. Both events, he said, represent "nothing less than a double rupture of an era."

Steinmeier also used his speech, in which he stressed German guilt and responsibility for the devastation of World War II and the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust, to warn that "fascination with Germany itself was winning over authoritarianism and the appeal of the people." He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would try to use the anniversary of the end of World War II for propaganda purposes.

In Berlin, remembrance events were held at former concentration camps and educational events for younger generations were organized, one of which he participated in entirely. Friedrich March, the newly elected Chancellor.

In London, King Charles III also made implicit reference to Ukraine and Russia in his speech tonight. The monarch stressed the need to "remember the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said: 'Face to face is better than war.' In this spirit, we should also renew our commitment not only to the cause of freedom, but also to the global will to restore a just peace where there is war. However, conflicts are multiplying everywhere.

In the same vein, from Paris, President Emmanuel Macron led a solemn ceremony with a floral offering at the Arc de Triomphe, followed by a military parade. In his speech, Macron stressed the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the past and underlined the need to defend democratic values in the face of current challenges, such as the rise of populism and geopolitical tensions.

In Brussels, the European institutions organized a joint ceremony with the participation of representatives of the Member States, highlighting the importance of European unity in preserving peace. In Amsterdam, the events, which took place on Monday and were attended by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, included exhibitions and educational activities focusing on resistance during the Nazi occupation and the importance of historical memory to prevent the repetition of past mistakes.